Photos: What winning the US Open means to Rafael Nadal

[caption id=“attachment_1096927” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Novak Djokovic in their men’s final match at the US Open tennis championships in New York. Nadal won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1096931” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] This was the 37th time the two players clashed. Nadal has won 22 of these clashes. “Probably nobody brings my game to the limit like Novak,” he said. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1096933” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Nadal broke down in tears after winning the match-point. He said later that only he and his team knew how much the title meant. “This is probably the most emotional one in my career,” Nadal said. “I know I had to be almost perfect to win.” Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1096935” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Nadal was in supreme in the run-up to the final. He is unbeaten on hard-court this year and had dropped just one set at the US Open before facing Djokovic. Djokovic later admitted that the Spaniard deserved to win. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1096937” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Nadal greets friends and family in the stands as he celebrates after defeating Djokovic. “When Novak plays at that level,” Nadal said, “I’m not sure if (anybody can) stop him.” Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1096939” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The title takes him to 13 Grand Slams — which is one less than Pete Sampras’ record. Nadal is now 3rd in the list of All-time men’s Grand Slam winners. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1096943” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The win caps a fantastic year for Nadal. He also won the French Open earlier, where he faced David Ferrer in the final. Reuters[/caption]